Suction-sweeper.



P. STBIHKOENIG. SUCTION BWEEPEB. APPLICATION run 001?. 10, 1913.

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FREDERICK STEINKOENIG. 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

' sucrronswnnrnn.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27. 1914.

Application filed October 10, 1913. Serial No. 794,498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK STEIN- KOENIG, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction-Sweepers; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invcntion, attention being called to the drawing which accompanies this application and forms a part hereof. v

This invention concerns suction sweepers of the portable type and in which the operating parts are actuated while the device is being moved over the surface to be cleaned.

The invention consists of the means and construction. hereinafter described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section of the device. Fig.2, is a side elevation of the lower part of the same with parts broken out. Fig. 3, is a top view of the lower part.

Fig. 4:, shows a rear view of the lower part.

of the device. Fig. 5, shows a view of the front end of the vacuum-chamber with parts broken away. Fig. .6, shows in an enlarged detail view the manner of securing the edges of the cloth for forming the dust-pocket.

Fig. 7, shows a side elevation ofthe suctionhead detached and with parts of it adjusted to dumping position.

The apparatus consists substantially of a suction head A, a cylindrical vacuum-chamber B, and an exhaust ump C, all in'open communication with each other. The suction head contains in its underside the dust-inlet or suction-mouth a, and a rotar brush 8, is mounted above this month w ereby dust and dirt are loosened, particularly in caseof carpets, while said mouth passeslover them. The loosened matter is thus readily taken up through the suction mouth and lgaised by the suction into the vacuum-chamer. a The housing 9, of the suction head above the brush therein, and the end of the vacuum-chamber nearest it, are rovided with nipples 10 and 11, respective y, permitting attachment of a piece of rubber tubing to provide a; duct 12, whereby the. suction head and the vacuum-chamber are placed in com munication with eachother.

mit passage of air and valves of the The exhaust pump is double-acting and so connected with the vacuum-chamber that a vacuum, (as here understood), may be produced and. maintained as long as the pump is inoperation. For such purpose the side 13, of the vacuum-chamber 15 provided with nipples 14, and complementary nipples 15 are provided on the heads 16, of the pump, whereby this latter and the vacuumchamber are connected in parallel relation and one above the other. The connection is preferably one permitting detachment whenever necessary for any purpose and packing may be interposed to prevent leakage of air. Locking means to render the connection more secure may be applied.

The piston of the pump is formed by two cupleathers 17--17, mounted on the piston rod 18, as shown, and held in position between two washers 19. A Suitable stufling box 21, is provided in one of the pumpheads where the piston rod passes through. Each pump-head has two openings to fiperaptype are provided in-connection with each opening, one designated 22, opening inwardlyand the other shown at 23, opening outwardl Valves 22, are provided at the inner en s of the nipples 15.

The operation of the pump and action of its valves, whereby air is drawn from vacuum-chamber B, with each stroke of the piston, may be readily understood from the drawings. Each, stroke of the piston fills the pump cylinder with air drawn from the chamber and expels at the same time the air drawn into the cylinder by the previous stroke. When the piston moves in a direction opposite to that now indicated by the arrow, the action of the valves is reversed. The piston is actuated by one of the two sets of wheels upon which the device is supported. The wheels used are shown at 24, both being rigidly mounted upon their axle 25. Connecting rods 26, attached to the said wheels and to a cross-bar 27, at the outer end of the piston-rod, serve to transmit from the wheels to the piston, the power necessary to actuate this latter. The matter drawn up from the suction-head into the vacuum chamber is separated in this latter b being caused to enter first a tubular oc ret the side I) of which consists of clot or other suitable fabric and is of a texture which permits the air, as it is drawn out from the chamber by the pump, to filter through, while matter carried by the air is retained. The pocket is removable and may be withdrawn from the vacuum-chamber from time to time to be emptied of its contents. For such purpose the cloth which forms the side of the pocket is stretched around a frame composed of bars 28, which are secured to heads 29 and 31. Head 29, is fitted into the open endof the vacuum-chamber and forms also a cap whereby this open end is closed. Head 31, is provided with a nipple 32, which fits into-nipple 11, so that the matter drawn up from the suction-head is caused to move directly into the pocket. The cloth is held in position by books 33,. provided at one of its longitudinal .edges and hooked onto one of bars 28. 1 Thereafter the cloth is stretched around these bars and lapped over its hooked edge, as shown in Fig. '6. The lapped edge is held in place by being forced into a groove provided in the particular bar used, by means of a clamping rod 34;, held at both ends to heads 29 and 31, as shown in Fig. 1. The edges of the cloth at the ends of the pocket, lap over flanges 35, to prevent escape of dust. The pocket is readily opened ,to permit removal of accumulated dust by disengagement of the clamping rod after the pocket has been withdrawn from the vacuum-chamber. Brush 8, is journaledin the opposite ends of the suction-head and outside of these ends-friction rollers 36, are mounted upon the journalsand held in contact with the rims of wheels-24, whereby rotation of the brush is effected while the apparatus is in motion. The rims of these wheels are preferably rubber-tired to favor frictional driving engagement. Matter raised upby the brush, but too heavy to be lifted by the suction, drops back upon the vof their positions.

bottom inside of the suction-head on each side of the suction-mouth. These bottom portions are shaped to form pockets 37.

adapted to receive this matter. To permit removal of it they are provided with journals at-each of their ends whereby they are mounted in the opposite sides of. the suction head in a manner to permit them to be tilted. A bowed spring 38, connected to arms 39, formed on one of the journals of each pocket is used to adjust them and at the-sametime serves to hold them in eithcr A. slide &1. is provided b to manipulate said spring for this purpose. 3

- T0 permit the suction-head to be relieved of accumulated matter in this. mannerreuires its detachment from the-apparatusfor which purpose it-is removably connected.

This connection is by preference to the bearings 42, which support axle 25,-: the

bearings bein en a ed between hook-1 7. u z: b

- eiiected.

intense shaped catches 43, which form parts of a latch 44:, and projections 4-5, on a bar id, to which the latch-bar is pivotally connected. A spring 47, is provided between the two bars to make the engagement of the catches 43, a detachable one, so that upon depression of the latch-bar, disengagement may be it is essential that the suction mouth around its edges, is held evenly to the surface'over which it travels, being the same time free to yieldingly adjust itself to this surface. This is efiected by springs connected to each side of the suctionhead and connecting also to bar 4'6, there being spring rods 4L8. on one side of the suctionhead and coil-springs t9 on the other. Between these springs the. suction-head is held in the proper position in the desired manner and driving contact is maintained between rollers 36, and the rims of wheels 24. A handle 51, connected in the manner shown serves for moving theapparatus over the floor. Connection of a hose provided-with a suction-mouth to be used in positions otherwise than on the floor may also be made at nip 1e 11, suction-head A, and rubber tube 12, aving been detached.

' Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A portable suction-sweeper, comprising a vacuum-chamber, a pump adapted to withdraw the air therefrom, aXle-bearingsprovided on o posite ends of the pump,-a suction-head in open communication with the vacuum-chamber and a' spring-actuated latch-bar provided with hook-shaped catches and co-actingprojections fitted to engage be tween them the axle-bearings at one end of the pump whereby the suction-head is. detachably held in position.

2. A suction-sweeper comprising a vacuum-chamber, apump adapted to withdraw the air therefrom and a suction-head in open communication with the vacuum-chamber and provided with a suction-mouth, attaching means comprising a bar whereby the suction-head is connected in position, springrods extending from this bar over the suction-head and connected at their downwardly'curved ends to one side of the same, and coil-springs connected at one of their ends to said bar and at their other ends to the other side. of thesuction-head whereby this latter is yieldingly held in position between said spring-rods and said coil-springs and in a manner to maintain the suctionmouth in contact with the surface over "which it passes. I

3. In a'suction-sweeper', a'suctiomhead the bottom of which consists of two pockets which are spaced to form a suction-mouth between theme? arotary brush supported abovethis mouth, journalsat-each end of these pocketswhereby theyare supported in a manner to permit tilting, an arm pro- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my vided on one ournal of each pocket, a signature in the presence of two witnesses. bowed spring connected to each of these FREDERICK STEINKOENIG. 7 arms and a slide connected to this spring Witnesses: 1

I 5 for the purpose of manipulating it to adjust O. SPENGEL,

the position of the pockets. v A. JOHNSON. 

